Strike Fighter Squadron 27 (VFA-27), also known as the "Royal Maces", are a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 5 and are attached to the aircraft carrier . Their tail code is NF. Mission The squadron conducts carrier-based air strike and strike force escort missions, anti-ship operations, battle group anti-air operations, and surveillance/intelligence collection operations in support of Carrier Air Wing 5 tasking and requirements. The squadron is permanently forward deployed with Carrier Air Wing 5, shore based at MCAS Iwakuni. History 1960s The squadron was commissioned Attack Squadron 27 (VA-27) on 1 September 1967 flying the A-7 Corsair II, and in January 1968, the squadron officially reported to Carrier Air Wing 14. In May 1968, as the Vietnam War continued, they departed for their first combat deployment aboard . On 28 June 1968, the squadron flew its first combat sortie, striking targets in the panhandle region of North Vietnam. The squadron's insignia was approved by the Chief of Naval Operations on 25 March 1968, and consisted of a light blue glove and black mace. They were nicknamed the Royal Maces. During a second combat cruise aboard Constellation in August 1969, VA-27 flew over 2,500 combat sorties. 1970s VA-27 transitioned to the newer A-7E on 20 June 1970. From 4 February to 7 March, VA-27 embarked on during the carrier's transit around Cape Horn to her new home port in NAS Alameda, California, and then deployed on Enterprise from 11 June 1971 to 12 February 1972, the squadron made its third combat cruise. With the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in December 1971, Enterprise departed Yankee Station and made a quick transit to the Indian Ocean to provide support for the evacuation of foreign civilians. Squadron pilots amassed over 4,400 combat flight hours and participated in over 1,500 air strikes over Indochina without loss. The squadron commenced their fourth combat deployment in September 1972 aboard Enterprise, participating in Linebacker I and Linebacker II operations, heavy air strikes against targets in North Vietnam to interdict the flow of supplies in that country and into South Vietnam. The squadron began its next deployment to the Western Pacific in September 1974. In April 1975, the squadron flew surveillance missions over Vietnam and flew escort for United States Marine Corps and United States Air Force